M&P Shield CC/Gun Issues & Problems

[dajogejr]

Have somebody else shoot it . . .

This.
There are adjustments to be made, going from full size to compact.
My girl has a 9c. She wasn't as accurate as her sd9ve.
I put a cheapo 35 dollar laser on hers to show her anticipating the shot.
It was like a lazer light show...bouncing all around.
Then, I had her dry fire it with the laser several times...then it clicked in her head. Trigger control....
She originally had ft eject when she started shooting, I taught her the push/pull with opposite hands....

Let an experienced shooter of compact guns shoot it as well as try different ammo...just to eliminate that possibility.

This was our latest trip out... 30 shots at 7 yards, what it takes to qualify for Michigan CPL. Actual test is on a piece of paper twice as big and at 5 yards.

 

[DanielF]

My shield 9 does the same thing when racking the slide. I've got nearly 400 rounds threw It now and it is scores better than it was when new. The FTE is new on me. Sounds like a call into smith is on order. They are pretty good at taking care of their customers. Good luck my friend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stratajema]

...Turn it around a little bit at a time until it is smooth to cycle...

No, it should work in any rotated position because it can rotate while being fired.

OP, your reported problem with the slide not locking back is due to a defective recoil spring assembly. It is the latest "virus" in quality control that is affecting lots of Shields. I had the same problem over one year ago.

 

[Epiphany]

It was sent back to S&W last Thursday. We'll see how that goes but they said they wont be able to send back till 2-3 weeks. I'll give updates.

I was looking into the Apex auto sear and have already considered doing that after getting the gun back and testing it out.

I'm almost positive that the times it did FTE I was not limp wristing. Whenever I do shoot any of my guns I usually us the push pull method to make sure its stable. I even bench rested the gun and it was still shooting everywhere. I concentrated on my trigger pull also making sure not to give and jerking movements.

 

[gc70]

I would have to rack it a couple of times just to lock it back.
.....
Tied locking the slide back sometime and it still lacked the ability to lock the slide back. It was able to lock back with both empty magazines but again it stopped just short of the locking sear. Tried to push more but it acted like it was stuck. After racking a couple of times to it finally locked.

I am not sure I exactly understand your description of your problem.

Does the slide fail to lock open on an empty magazine when shooting?

Does the slide fail to lock open on an empty magazine when manually racking the slide? For you and your wife or just your wife?

Does the slide fail to lock open when manually racking the slide with no magazine in the gun?

 

[Epiphany]

Slide would lock back on empty mag when shooting and manual racking it back.

Slide would not go all the way back and would stop short of locking sear.

 

[gc70]

Slide would lock back on empty mag when shooting and manual racking it back.

Good; this indicates that the slide's locking mechanism is not broken and is working as designed. Being able to manually rack the slide to lock on an empty magazine also shows that inordinate pressure is not required to fully retract the slide.

Slide would not go all the way back and would stop short of locking sear.

My Shield is more difficult than any of my other guns to manually lock the slide without a magazine.

The Shield's slide only moves 2/16ths of an inch beyond the slide lock position. I checked several full-sized guns (Beretta, Glock, Ruger, S&W, Sig) and their slides all moved 4/16ths to 5/16ths beyond the slide lock position. The Shield's recoil spring also seems stouter than the recoil springs of any of my full-sized guns. Put those factors together and it is more difficult to hold the Shield's slide far enough back to manually lock.

It is very easy to rack a slide and inadvertently allow it to slip forward a bit when trying to manually lock the slide, but the design of the Shield -and other subcompact pistols- is inherently less forgiving of such slippage.

 

[hoc9sw]

I've posted on my shield 9's trips back to the homeland.

I still find it difficult to lock the slide back unless I put in a mag. There just isn't a lot to hold on to and still keep hands clear of the muzzle. I've taken to using the method the ladies use. Actually hold the slide with thumb on the slide lock, and push the frame forward instead of trying to pull back the slide. I've got arthritis, but the shield is harder to rack than any of my .45 1911s. I think it is just a matter of size.

Also, before barrel replacement, mine jammed constantly with 115gr (I mean every other round on a good day). It ran like a clock with 124/147gr. In the second trip back, they replaced the barrel, extractor, ejector, firing pin, spring. Now the remaining issue is the rare FTB (2 in 100 rounds last trip). 115gr now works without the jams.

The same guy took care of my calls, and I understand that he test fired it himself the second trip back. CS got a gold star, the first visit's smith, not so much. I liked the second smith's approach. Replace the parts.

Accuracy is a whole different story. If I shoot it first, I'll get one or two fliers, then remember it isn't a 1911, and come on target. After a few mags through the 1911, it is a lot harder. I've decided to shoot one or the other in a session, but not both. good reason to go to the range two night a week instead of one.

At 3 & 7 yards, it is almost on par with what I can do with a 1911. At 15, well, I don't really need to shoot it that far out. I can say I will stay with the 1911 for any qualification sessions.

I will say that after the first trip back to the factory, I would have traded it off for a .22A-1. After the second, I think I'll keep it.

 

[AH64DB2]

Just got back from the range w/ my Shield 9. I shot 100 rounds- 50 each from different U.S. manufacturers. I used 4 different magazines. The slide would not lock back when firing with 3 of the 4 magazines. The spent case would eject. I asked the boys behind the desk and they had me hold the pistol like I was firing it. He pointed out that my right thumb was "resting" on the slide release and that may be causing it not to lock when firing... I 'was holding it down' of sorts. Of course they were closing and I was out of ammo so I'm going to practice my grip at home and return to the range to see if operator error that was indeed the case. Has anyone else heard of this being the cause of the slide not locking back when firing? I have no issues locking the slide w/ an empty magazine or manually using the slide lock... its only when firing.

 

[gc70]

He pointed out that my right thumb was "resting" on the slide release and that may be causing it not to lock when firing... I 'was holding it down' of sorts.
...
Has anyone else heard of this being the cause of the slide not locking back when firing?

I have not read other specific reports like yours about the Shield, but I have about a lot of other types of guns. My personal experience with an errant thumb involved a Sig P226, but otherwise mirrored your experience.

 

[Epiphany]

Just got it back yesterday. Haven't had time to shoot it. S&W replaced the barrel and extractor. No other information then that. Seems like the slide is still not fully going back and I checked the orientation of the spring. I really don't like that design. Seems like they should have made a spring that hugs better.

We'll see how it does.

 

[Edmo]

I'm sorry to hear about the OP's problems with his Shield. Hopefully the repair fixes the problem and your gun runs trouble free now.

Reference stiff springs and hard to manually lock the slide open...

As guns get smaller and more compact, adjustments have to be made to help soak up the recoil. When the slide mass is lightened the recoil spring tension is usually increased to accomplish this. These heavier springs result in a gun which can be hard for some to manipulate. The Shield is a prime example of this with the spring tension really ratcheting up as the slide reaches the limit of it's rearward travel.

Because of this, I've found my wife and daughter prefer semi guns with more slide mass and lighter springs. Their favorites are the sub-compact and compact GLOCK 26 & 19. They prefer these guns because the slides are wider (easier to grasp & more mass) and the springs are lighter and therefore are easier to "rack" than my Shield's slide.

On another note, they really dislike ALL of my J frame snubbies, especially the aluminum framed 642. They find them hard to hit with, have very heavy triggers, and snappy recoil when compared to their favorite 9mms.

Sometimes the guns which seem small and perfectly sized to fit into the purse while at the counter aren't as well suited for some shooters once you get them to the range.

The ladies in my house accept the slightly bigger guns to get an action they can manipulate. That leaves the J frame snubbies and Shield for me!

Edmo

 

[bfm]

Of the small 9s I have brought to the range for female friends to shoot (Shield, LC9, PPS), all of them liked the PPS the best. They all shot it well and had no problem manipulating the slide.

 

[Epiphany]

Got to shoot the shield again with my wife this Sunday. Didnt really have any problems with the gun. Shot some 115gr factory reloads, 115 Winchester, and some 135gr Critical duty. Shot a little over 200 rounds but all shot great through the gun.

Gun is a lot more accurate than it was before since they changed the barrel. Only had one FTE on the factory reload. Still have to get used to shooting with a smaller gun. Trigger seems little stiff and heavy and probably going to get an Apex trigger for it as I'm pretty sure it'll help both of us.

I still don't like the recoil spring. Seems to bind up when its rotated certain positions still. Even though you set it to the factory manual it walks when you fire it.

The feed ramp seems little bit flat and not curved enough to allow better feeding into the chamber. Plus a good polish would probably improve that a little bit. I polished where the trigger bar actuates the striker blocker so it would be more smooth cause it was rough with factory machine marks and did improve on smoothing out the trigger.

Overall still a great little gun. Still pretty accurate out to 20 yrds on silhouette. Just needs some more minor tweaking. Just wished S&W took more time to smooth things out like machine marks from the factory it'd make an even better gun from factory.

 

[tommyo]

Glad I found this thread. I carry a Glock 26 and was thinking about finding something thinner. I love the look and feel of the Shield, but I have no problems of any kind with the Glock. It has never had a hiccup, great trigger, mild recoil, can carry a Glock 17 mag for a reload. Not knocking the Shield, just realizing the grass isn't always greener. I had a SA XDs in 45 when they first came out. Mine was nothing but trouble. Sent it back twice and they said nothing was wrong. "I must be limp wristing. " Maybe I was, doesn't matter...this Glock just works! I hope S&W gets them sorted out because I would love one of the new "no-safety" Shields that works.

 

[Chuck Jones]

Love my shield and it's had no problems. There are 4-5 others among the guys and gals I shoot with and theirs are all ok too.

I have both the 40 and 9mm since I'm an instructor and I'm constantly amazed how well these guns shoot.

Meanwhile my XDs .45 is going back for to Springfield for light strikes.

/c

 

[Epiphany]

I like the shield too since i can get better groupings after the repairs. Ordered an apex kit and sights to go with it and it should make it a better gun. I just can't wait to see how it performs just after the trigger kit install.

I just didn't like how the machining of parts are on the M&P pistols. I went to the gun store another day and say an M&P pro and CORE model and they had some grittiness in the trigger too. Checked out the striker blocker and even though S&W polished it there is still a lot of machine marks. Trigger is still nice and crisp and seems to be a lot lighter than the shield but you can still feel grittiness in that trigger too.

I'm still surprised with my XD because when I go to that I don't feel any grittiness like the S&W. Trigger little spongy but that is probably the only worry that i have about it. Been shooting straight for over 6 years.

 

[Shield9mm]

Recently got me one in 9mm, so far 100 rnds trough without a single issue, very satisfied with the gun, it is pretty accurate and easy to shoot.

 

[Stratajema]

...I went to the gun store another day and say an M&P pro and CORE model and they had some grittiness in the trigger too. Checked out the striker blocker and even though S&W polished it there is still a lot of machine marks...

A lot of that grittiness is from S&W drilling the striker block hole after the slide has been melonited and then doing no follow-up deburring of the hole. Your gun's trigger feel is at the mercy of their drill bit/tooling maintenance. If their drill bit is real sharp, then less grittiness. If the drill bit is becoming dull, then more grittiness.

 

[bronconagurski]

I got my wife a shield 9mm on layaway. I hope she shoots it better than the j frame. She couldn't hit an elephant standing broadside two feet in front of her with it.